Supporters of Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda donate money yesterday at Mwembe Yanga grounds in Dar es Salaam to cover expenses for his treatment and legal requirements for the pending case. PHOTO | MICHAEL JAMSON
What you need to know:
In a rally attended by hundreds of people at Mwembe-Yanga grounds in Temeke District in the city yesterday, several Muslim clerics who are sympathisers of Sheikh Ponda -- from both Mainland and the Isles -- described the tribulations that the cleric is going through as being part of a wider scheme to frustrate his efforts to defend the rights of Muslims.
Dar es Salaam. Followers of the controversial cleric, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, yesterday said their leader was being persecuted in order to weaken Islam in the country, adding that any attack on the man would be construed as an attack on all Muslims.
In a rally attended by hundreds of people at Mwembe-Yanga grounds in Temeke District in the city yesterday, several Muslim clerics who are sympathisers of Sheikh Ponda -- from both Mainland and the Isles -- described the tribulations that the cleric is going through as being part of a wider scheme to frustrate his efforts to defend the rights of Muslims.
The rally was organised by the Council of Muslim Organisations in Tanzania, to which Sheikh Ponda is the secretary.
In speeches made yesterday at the rally, speakers accused President Jakaya Kikwete’s administration of favouring Christians at the expense of Muslims. President Kikwete has repeatedly denied that his government engages in any form of religious favourtism or discrimination.
“We want the government led by CCM to apologise to all Muslims for the assault on Ponda. We also want our good sheikh to be set free immediately,” said Sheikh Salum Amour from Zanzibar.
Sheikh Idd Mussa from Dar es Salaam charged: “Any assault on Sheikh Ponda is an assault on all Muslims. We want persecution against Muslims to end at once.”
Yesterday’s rally came about nine days after Sheikh Ponda was injured during a fracas with the police in Morogoro municipality.
Sheikh Ponda, who sustained injuries on the right shoulder, was later admitted to the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) where he was later placed under police custody and subsequently charged for incitement.
Last Friday he was taken to the Segerea remand prison pending the mention of his case next week.
The police have formed a team to investigate the Morogoro assault. The officer who allegedly shot the sheikh has been arrested, according to police spokesperson Advera Senso.
Speaking yesterday at the rally, Sheikh Kondo Juma called for the resignation of Home Affairs minister Emmanuel Nchimbi and the arrest of Morogoro regional police commander Faustine Shilogile.
